rountree



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. W. ROUNTREE. FILE GAME.

1.7V VEW TOR Pa tented Apr. 6, 1886.

.litaqrney (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.- J W. ROUNTREE. FILE CASE.

No. 339,325. Patented Apr. 6-, 1886;

JOSEPH XV. 'ROUNTREE, OF VVASHINGTON,DISTBIOT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOB TO M. J. XVINF, OF SAME PLACE.

FILE-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,325, dated April 6, 1886,

Applicuiion filed June 27, 1865. Serial No. 170,047. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrn W. RoUN'rREE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at the city of \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful File-Case, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in file-cases, the objects being, first, to proio vide improved means for fastening the side pieces and suspension-lugs in position to the end of the file-box; second, to provide means for regulating and fixing the position of the file-box in its receptacle in the case; and, third,

1 5 to provide an improved cross-bar for the follower of the file-box.

Heretofore it has been the custom to secure the side pieces and the suspension-lugs to the end board of the file-box independent of each other. This arrangement requires the use of a fastening to each element or part, and the fastening means to be projected into the end board at a point where the greatest strain comes upon the parts; hence they are liable to .25 become loose and the box inade shaky.

As heretofore stated, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide means to unite the side pieces and the suspension-lugs to the end board by a single bolt or screw, and thus to hold them firmly in combination.

Also, heretofore no means were provided whereby the position of the file-box in its receptacle in the case could be determined or fixed, the distance to which the box could be set in the case being determined by the depth of the case or the length of the end board 5 hence in instances where the papers in the box were longer than the end board they were likely to be crumpled and 40 broken by pressure against the back of the case; again, the boards of the back of the filecase being of light stuff, secured to the case by small fastenings, in time become warped, thus making an uneven surface, and causing a series of boxes to set in the receptacles at dii'ferent distances, and making an irregular front arrangement.

It is the purpose of my improvements to overcome these objectionable features.

My invention therefore consists in an improved side piece for a file box, formed with an upwardly-extended bracket-arm having a perforated side car, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

My invention further consists in a novel combination of means for securing the side pieces and suspensioirlngs to the board of the file-box.

My invention further consists in adjustable means, as hereinafter described, for limiting C and fixing the position of file-boxes within their receptacles.

My invention also consists in an improved cross-bar for a file-box.

My invention also consists in the novel ar- 6 rangement and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, andspecifically pointed out in the claims.

1 attain these objects and purposes of my invention by the means illustrated in the are companying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein- Figure l is a transverse vertical sectional view of a portion of a file-case showing my improvements, and as having one filebox inserted and one withdrawn and suspended. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line :0 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a detail view in crosssection of the forward connection of the suspension-bar. Fig. 4c is a view of the suspen- 8: sion-bar. Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the suspension-bar, showing the supporting-lugs at its forward inner end. Fig. 6 is a view of the sliding stop-plate. Fig. 7 is a view of one of the suspension-lugs. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the completed box. Fig. 9 is a View of the improved cross-bar for the follower, and Fig. 10 is a detail View of the side bars and lugs secured to the end board.

In the drawings similar letters of reference 0 identify like parts.

The letter A designates a portion of a filebox of any of the usual or well-known constructions provided with vertical walls or side pieces, a. 9 5

The letters 13 designate the suspension-bars,

of a well-known construction in the general conformation, being formed of metal and having a vertical flange, b, and horizontal flange, 1), said flanges being arranged at right angles me to each other. The horizontal flange b is broken away for a distance, as seen at b", for the purpose of permitting the ends of the suspension-lugs attached to the end board of the file-box to drop through and pass below the line of the flange. The horizontal flange at the forward end of the suspension -bars is turned downward and carried rearward, as at b, which conformation makes a closed end to serve as a hearing or stop for the ends of the suspensionlugs on the bottom of the end board, and thus hold the file-box in suspension. The vertical flange of the suspensionbars is provided with perforations at the forward and rear parts, substantially as shown, and to save material in the main flange, and for convenience of attachment to the case the flange at that portion about the rear perforation, If, is widened.

My improvements consist in forming on the inner or wall face of the suspension-bars about the forward perforations, b, a lug, b, the perforation of the bar at this point being extended through the lugs, the entrance to one of perforations at this end of the bar being countersunk to receive the head of a screw,

and the perforation in the opposite lug and suspension-bar being screw-threaded to receive the threaded end of the fastening-screw. These lugs or projections b are arranged in a hole bored or cut in the vertical partitions of the case and the screw projected through the one into the threaded lug of the other, and thus both suspension-bars are held at that point to the partition by a single fastening, additional security being given by means of the lugs having their seat in theholein the partition.

The letter O designates a sliding stop-plate formed, preferably, with a projecting piece, a, at the front to give broader abutting surface for the end of the suspension-lugs, and provided with a slot, 0', arranged in the direction of the length of the plate. These stopplates are set against the outer faces of the suspension-bars with the slot registering with the rear perforation thereof, and are brought with their forward end faces to about flush with the rear edge of the cutaway part in the flange, and are secured by a clamping-screw, 0 passed through the slots in the plates, the suspension-bars, and the partitions. Thus it will be seen that adjacent suspension-bars are held to opposite sides of the same partitionpiece by single bolts or screws at each end of the bars.

The letter D designates a file-box having slotted side pieces, d. These, so far as the general construction of the side pieces and vertical portions secured to the front board of the box are concerned, are of a well-known construction.

My improvements, as stated hereinbefore, consist in the novel construction of that part where the side pieces are secured to the end board of the box. At this part the metal of the side piece is extended upward, as at d, forming a vertical bracket arm or projection, and on the upper inner side of this vertical bracket-arm is formed a side ear, cl", arranged at right angles to the side piece, and having a perforation, (1 To give a neat attachment, and to add security to the connection with the end board,this side car, (1 is preferably formed on the bracket-arm with a shoulder, (1*, seats d being cut in the end board, to which the ears are fitted. To the outer face of the end board are arrangedand secured the suspensionlugs d", having perforations and inwardlyprojecting lugs (F. The side pieces of the box and these suspension lugs are secured in relative position to the end board by means of a threaded bolt and nut, d passed through the ears of the side pieces, the end board, and the suspension-lugs, the several parts at this connection being held secure and firm by this single fastening means.

The letter E designates my improved crossbar. This consists of a metal cross-bar, e, of the usual construction, provided with disks 6 at the ends, and cams e to engage in the serrations of the slots in the side pieces.

My improvements have special reference to the finger-piece c, which, being designed to carry the cams into engagement, sometimes, when of the usual construction, drops against the face of the follower-board of the box, and in this position it is inconvenient to grasp or manipulate. To avoid this objection I form the finger -piece with a projecting lug, e, directed toward the follower-box, which, when the piece drops down, sets against the followerboard and leaves space for the finger to pass between the finger-piece and the followerboard.

Having thus described my improvements, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the vertical walls of a file-casehaving seats formed therein,of the suspension-bars, as B, having side lugs formed thereon to set in the seats in the said walls, and perforations extended through the side lugs, one of said perforations being provided with interior screw-threads, and a fasteningscrew projected through both of said side lugs, whereby both suspension-bars are held to the case by a single screw at that point, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the front and end boards of a file-box, the side pieces, (1, formed with vertical bracket-arms cl, proj ected above the upper edge of the side piece, and having an inwardly-turned perforated side car, (1 at their upper ends, the suspension-lugs d", and fastening-bolts d", projected through the ears of the bracket, the end boards, and the sus pension-lugs, substantially as described. I

3. In combination with the front and end boards of a file-box, said end boards having seats formed therein to receive the ears of the side pieces, the side pieces formed with vertical bracket-arms projected above the upper edge of the side piece, and having perforated side ears projected from the upper ends of the bracket-arms and set at right angles to the side pieces,with their inner face extended beyond the end face of the side piece, and fast- I 7. In combination with a file-box provided ening-bolts projected through the side ears of with suspension-lugs on the end boards therethe brackeathe end board, and the snspenof, and a file-case provided with suspensionsion-lugs, substantially as described. bars having horizontal flanges with a portion ei. In combination with the suspension-bar cut away, a stopping plate or stud adjustably of afile-case,the adjustablestop-plate,substan- I secured to the suspension-bars of the case, whereby the position of the file-boxes in the tially as described, and for the purpose stated.

5, In combination with a filecase, the suscase is arranged and determined, snbstanpension-bar 13, formed. with the perforated tially as described. lug N, and cut-away portion 5 and an adjust- 8. The improved crossbar E, formed with able stop-plate, 0, having horizontal slot 0, a projection, c, extended from the inner face all arranged and combined substantially as ofthe finger-pieceeisubstantiallyasdescribed, described, and for the purpose stated. 1 and for the purpose stated.

6. In combination with the vertical walls of In witness whereof I have hereunto set my a file-case, the suspension-bars arranged on hand in the presence of two attesting witopposite faces of said wall, and formed with nesses.

perforated lugs at their forward ends and perforations at their rear ends, and cut-away parts JOSEPH XV. ROUNTBEE. in the horizontal flange thereof, the adjustable sliding plates 0, having central slots, and Attest:

A. G. HEYLMUN, pension-bars and the partition of the file-case, \VM. H. BATES.

clamping-screws projected through both susl substantially as described. I 

